The City of God, Exposition of Revelation · Chapter 20 · Part 3 – Part 4
Of the Angel, that lays hold on, or apprehends the Dragon. And I ſaw an Angel come down from Heaven having the Key of the Bottomleſs pit and a great chain in his hand, and he laid hold, &c.
THe word Angel both in Greek and Hebrew ſignifies a Meſſenger, taken therefore ſometimes for Heavenly Spirit Heb. 1.7. Pſal. 103.20. Sometimes a Miniſter of the Goſpel or Elder, 2 Cor. 5.20. Rev. 2.1. Sometimes for Chriſt Jeſus himſelf the Archangel. So ſometimes by an Angel, though expreſt in the ſingular Number, is meant the whole Elderſhip or Miniſtry, as Rev. 2 1. So the Angel of the Church of Epheſus, is to be underſtood more than one, becauſe they had Elders more than one, Acts 20.17. So the Angel is ſaid to pour out the Vials, Chap. 16. By it is to be underſtood thoſe Miniſters of Gods wrath, that are to execute his judgments upon Babylon. And by the Angel in the 14th Chapter, that is to Preach the Everlaſting Goſpel, we are to underſtand the whole Miniſtry, that is then called thereto. Which I take to be the import of Angel here, viz. the vertue, power and authority of Chriſt the Archangel, put forth in and by his Church, and people clothed with authority to perform this great ſervice, having the Key and Chain, Emblems of power and authority put into their hands. Chriſt being their head and repreſentative, and the rather ſo, becauſe it is a power and authority in oppoſition to the Dragon, who is a miſtical repreſentative of all the Enemies of Chriſt; it being no new thing to repreſent a whole party by the head and chief, that influences them: As to ſay ſuch a King vanquiſhed ſuch a King, when neither of the Kings are perſonally preſent, but vertually ſo by their commiſſions, impowring their Generals and Armies. So Michael and his Angels are ſaid to fight, Rev. 12. on the one ſide, and the Dragon and his Angels on the other; when neither Chriſt, nor the Devil are perſonally preſent, but their Agents and Inſtruments, Conſtantine and his Hoſt in the behalf of the Woman and Man child on the one ſide, and Maxentius and his crew ſeeking to devour the one and the other, on the other ſide.
So are the Bloody, Tyrannous, Antichriſtian powers, that for 1260. years are to oppoſe the Church, repreſented by a Beaſt. And the filthy Idolatrous Church by a lewd filthy Strumpet, a whoriſh Woman: and the true Church of Chriſt by a Woman,
Object. But is it not ſaid that the Angel comes down from Heaven? Therefore it muſt either be Christ himſelf in perſon, or ſome mighty Angel that deſcends from him out of Heaven to perform his great Service.
In anſwer whereto I ſhall firſt ſhew you, that by this Angel we cannot underſtand the perſon of Chriſt here deſcending, and coming from Heaven: and ſecondly, ſhew you what we are underſtand by Heaven.
Firſt, By this Angel we cannot underſtand the perſon of Chriſt.
Firſt, Becauſe this is not the time of his perſonal coming and appearing, which will not be till a thouſand years after; for this action is but at the beginning of the thouſand years: His perſonal coming is not to be till the Judgment day: It being ſaid, that he mu… judge the quick and dead at his appearing and Kingdom, which is not to be till after the thouſand years, and after the Battle of Gog and Magog.
Secondly, Becauſe when he comes in perſon, it i… not to ſuch work as this; not to fight and ſubdue Enemies with material Swords, nor to put his people as the Lambs Army and followers upon any ſuch ſervice at that time, being then all to be in the Reſurrection and glorified ſtate made like himſelf in glory, and as the Angels of God. Neither will any of his Enemies be in a capacity to make reſiſtance, or oppoſition, who in their own perſons ſhall be deſtroyed by fire, and the very earth they inhabit, and all its works burnt up and conſumed, at whoſe preſence the Earth and Heaven flye away.
Thirdly, Becauſe ſuch an apprehenſion would make three perſonal comings of Chriſt. whereas we read but of two (Heb. 9.28.) who will appear the ſecond time without ſin to Salvation. Becauſe it is expreſly ſaid, He ſits at the right hand of God, till his Enemies be made his footſtool.
Fourthly, This conquering, fighting work is not by Chriſt in perſon at this time of his glorious and terrible appearing; becauſe the Execution then upon the Enemies will be ſudden and ſpeedy like travail upon a Woman with Child; as a Thief in the night; like Lightning; as it was in the days of Lot and Noah with ſudden deſtruction: and as a ſnare will he come upon all the Inhabitants of the Earth Whereas this work (as you have heard) is a work of time, gradually to be performed. The ſtone ſmites not the Image all at once, but gradually, and after ſmiting beats him to powder, and blows it away: Then by degrees doth that little ſtone increaſe to be a great mountain, and to fill the whole Earth: firſt the ten Kingdoms in Europe, where the Beaſt hath ruled, muſt be overcome in order to Whores judging, for which there is Hallelujah aad Praiſe by all the Saints: After that is the Dragon to be dealt with, viz. The Heathen power and rule all the world through; for all the Kingdoms of this world are to become the Kingdoms of our Lord and his Chriſt; this therefore asks time, the other is done at an inſtant, ſuddenly, at the ſounding of a Trump, in the twinkling of an eye.
Fifthly, Neither can Chriſts perſonal appearing, be at this time, becauſe then it muſt be ſuppoſed, that Chriſt being in the Camp of the Saints and beloved City ſhall ſuffer himſelf, and all the Glorious Angels and glorified Saints to be beſieged and ſtreightned by the Gog-Magog Army.
Therfore muſt this be done by his virtual preſence power and ſpirit (though ſpoken, as if he did it in perſon) and theſe great Conqueſts effected, as in the foregoing Chapter is expreſſed by the Sword coming out of his mouth, viz. by his word, commiſſion, in his name, and by his authority.
But by what ways will the Lord effect this work upon the Enemy?
Various will be the ways and means, that this great work of removing this oppoſition and ſubduing theſe Enemies be brought to paſs, as the Scripture plentifully makes mention, viz.
Firſt, Sometimes by appearing againſt them in ſome extraordinary way of his providence, either after the manner of Aegypt, by ingaging the Hoſt of Heaven and Stars in their courſes againſt them by Hail-ſtones and Coals of fire, as at Mount Perizim, or as in the Vally of Gibeon.
Or Secondly, ſometimes in an ordinary way, by confounding, diſpiriting, dividing them, ingaging them one againſt the othet, as Iſa. 19.2.14. Jer. 51.46.
More eſpecially by raiſing, ſpiriting and ingaging his own people in the ſervice to the fulfilling of divers promiſes and propheſies, as Gen. 22.17. Pſal. 110.2. Pſal. 76. Jer. 51.19. to the 25. Obad. 21. Zach. 13.14.12.3. Mal. 4.4. Rev. 17.14.18.4.19.14.
And the fore is the ſpirit promiſed to be poured out in the latter day to this (as one) end. Iſa. 28.6.10.27. Zach. 12.6. Iſa. 32.15, 16.
And as Satan inſpires and influences his Inſtruments in an inviſible, ſpiritual manner; ſo the Lord Jeſus directs, guides, governs and ſpirits his Saints and followers.
And his ſpecial preſence (as of old) to accompany his in ſuch great ſervice, Joſhuah 5.13, 14, 15. Numb. 10.35, 36.14.42. Exod. 33.15. Pſal. 68.1. Iſa. 51.9, 10, 11. Mica 2.12, 13.7.15. Zeph. 3.8.
And why ſhould it be thought more ſtrange to have the work of God in the hands of his Saints in binding and keeping under their Enemies; to be repreſented by an Angel dealing with a Dragon, then to have the work in the hand of Conſtantine againſt the Pagan Roman power (in the behalf of the Man-child the type hereof) to be repreſented by a conteſt betwixt Michael and the Dragon? It being ſaid that Michael and his Angels fought, and the Dragon and his Angels, when Constantine and his followers in the behalf of Chriſt, fought with and overcame Maxentius and his Heathen crew, though both of them influenced no doubt by both the heads and principals, as it may be alſo concluded in this place.
This contemporizeth with the witneſſes, riſing and Earth-quake, Vials out of the Temple, the Lambs war, and the retaliating of Babilon.
Of Heaven.
BY Heaven properly is to be underſtood either the out-ſpread Firmament, which God called Heaven, Gen. 1.8. wherein are the Birds of Heaven, Mat. 13.32. the Winds of Heaven, Dan. 4.12. the Clouds, Rain and Dew of Heaven. Or the ſtarry Heaven, Gen. 1.17. Or that Heaven of heavens, the third Heaven, the place of Gods principal Seat, Mat. 16.9 2 Cor. 12.2.
Figuratively, ſometimes for the heights and places above us, ſometimes God himſelf, Luke 20.21. I have ſin'd againſt Heaven Sometimes the Church is called the Kingdom of Heaven, and often ſo repreſented in this Book.
Sometimes for Rule, Dignity and Soveraignty in the world the place of the Rulers or the Gods, Rev. 12.11. States and Kingdoms in the World political are (as Mr. Mead obſerves upon the place) much anſwerable to the condition of the world natural and accordingly repreſented in Scripture; for as the world natural conſiſts of Heaven and Earth, and in the Heaven Sun, Moon Stars; ſo in each State and Kingdom by Nobility and Laity and Diverſity of Orders and degrees in Rule and Government, there is the ſemblance of them; which interpretation Dr. Twiſt highly applauds, convincing (ſaith he) the Reader of the ſenſe and meaning of the Text, which is delivered by him even to admiration, wherein he excels greatly in his Preface upon the Key of the Revelations. And therefore it is familiarly expreſs'd in Scripture, when great deſolations happen to a State or Kingdom in ſubverſion of their Rule and Government, that the Sun is darkened, Moon eclipſed, Stars fall from Heaven. As Iſa. 13.10. Ʋpon Babilons threatned deſtruction. Ezek 32.7. Ʋpon Aegypts deſolation. And ſo the Cataſtrophe that befalls the Kings and great men of the Earth under tho ſixth ſeal, Rev. 6.12, 13, 14. ſet forth by like Metaphors, by Sun being darkned, Moon becoming blood, Stars of Heaven falling to the Earth, Heaven departing as a Scroll, and Mountains removing out of their places.
Which I take to be the true meaning of Heaven here, viz. the ſeat of authority, that the Church was now aſcended to after the Victory obtained againſt her Enemies, who now by her Rulers, that come forth in Chriſts name, by the righteous Laws, which are the cords and Chains of Chriſts Kingdom and by the viſible power, and authority in their hand, bind and chain up their Enemies, new Heavens, Iſa. 65. importing the ſame.